Blake Hinson sets school 3-point record, scores 29 in Pittsburgh's 80-63 win over West Virginia

Dec 7, 2023, 04:15 am

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- — Blake Hinson scored a career-high 29 points, including a school-record nine 3-pointers, to lead Pittsburgh to a 80-63 win over West Virginia on Wednesday night.

Carlton Carrington added 16 points and Guillermo Diaz Graham scored 15 as Pittsburgh (6-3) broke a two-game losing streak along with a six-game losing streak in the Backyard Brawl series with the Mountaineers.

Pittsburgh made a season-high 16 3-pointers. Hinson broke the record of eight that he had shared with several others.

Quinn Slazinski scored a career-high 22 points and Jesse Edwards had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Mountaineers. West Virginia (3-5) is off to its worst start since opening the 2012-13 season 4-5.

Diaz Graham hit a 3-pointer and a layup and Ishmael Leggett made a pair of layups during a 9-0 run that put Pittsburgh ahead to stay, 51-43, with 13:27 remaining. Diaz Graham added five points during a 14-2 run for the Panthers’ largest lead, 74-54, with 3:26 left.

Leggett picked up two fouls in the first three minutes of the game, including a technical, and the Panthers quickly fell behind 8-2. Pittsburgh turned things around with the long ball, sinking nine 3-pointers the rest of the half compared with just three 2-pointers and led 36-35 at halftime.

West Virginia forward Akok Akok, a transfer from Georgetown, played in his first game since collapsing on the court during an Oct. 27 charity exhibition contest. He had two blocked shots, two rebounds and did not score in eight minutes but gave the Mountaineers some needed help off the bench.

West Virginia still has a limited lineup with nine players. Guard Kerr Kriisa is serving a nine-game suspension for accepting impermissible benefits when he was at Arizona and the NCAA rejected Montana State transfer RaeQuan Battle’s immediate eligibility.

Both teams return to the court on Saturday when Pittsburgh hosts Canisius and West Virginia hosts Drexel.

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